January 13, 2016

St. Hilary

1 Sm 3: 1-10. 19-20

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!”and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Truly Listening

Is the Lord’s voice that loud, or is Samuel just a light sleeper? Those were my first questions about today’s reading. I mean, Samuel wakes up from his slumber three times when he hears a voice calling to him. More impressively, he gets up each time and answers, “Here I am.”

But maybe my first two questions are the wrong ones; maybe Samuel’s heart is open to the call of the Lord, and so he is able to hear it. Perhaps the Lord is always speaking to us, in little moments each and every day. Am I paying attention? Am I open to his desires for me? When the Lord speaks am I, his servant, truly listening?

Prayer

Pope Francis cautions us not to be too self-reliant, saying that this attitude can lead to a self-centered egoism that is afraid of God and refuses to hear or accept his generosity. “It is so difficult to listen to the voice of Jesus, the voice of God, when you believe that that the whole world revolves around you: there is no horizon, because you become your own horizon.” —Nov. 4, 2014

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

January 11, 2016

Mk 1: 14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Kingdom Vision

Jesus’ first words in Mark’s Gospel are startling, like a 5:00 am wake-up call: “This is the time of fulfillment.The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” There is no hesitation or hedging of bets.

The seemingly instantaneous responses of Simon, Andrew, James and John suggest that they sensed Jesus’ earnestness and urgency and could not say no. Notice that Jesus does not tell them to stop doing what they know; he invites them to see their livelihood through his “kingdom vision.” They are still fishers, but now, they are fishers of people.

As we enter into ordinary time, we are invited to see our daily “casting of nets” in a different way, through Jesus’ “kingdom vision.” How might Jesus be calling me to this “kingdom vision” today? This week? Beyond?

Prayer

Lord, send me where you would have me,To a village or heart of the city;I will remember that you are with me.O Lord, in my eyes you were gazing;Kindly smiling, my name you were saying:All I treasured I have left on the sand there;Close to you, I will find other seas.

St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, taught that a daily prayer practice helps us to discover God at work in our lives. The University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy invites you to join us in this Ignatian tradition of prayer, reflection, and discovery.

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All fields are optional except for the prayer request. Please know we will only share your first name and complete prayer request with the priests and brothers. Your name and Email addresses will never be shared with anyone, nor will you receive any additional correspondence from us.

January 13, 2016

St. Hilary

1 Sm 3: 1-10. 19-20

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!”and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Truly Listening

Is the Lord’s voice that loud, or is Samuel just a light sleeper? Those were my first questions about today’s reading. I mean, Samuel wakes up from his slumber three times when he hears a voice calling to him. More impressively, he gets up each time and answers, “Here I am.”

But maybe my first two questions are the wrong ones; maybe Samuel’s heart is open to the call of the Lord, and so he is able to hear it. Perhaps the Lord is always speaking to us, in little moments each and every day. Am I paying attention? Am I open to his desires for me? When the Lord speaks am I, his servant, truly listening?

Prayer

Pope Francis cautions us not to be too self-reliant, saying that this attitude can lead to a self-centered egoism that is afraid of God and refuses to hear or accept his generosity. “It is so difficult to listen to the voice of Jesus, the voice of God, when you believe that that the whole world revolves around you: there is no horizon, because you become your own horizon.” —Nov. 4, 2014

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

January 11, 2016

Mk 1: 14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Kingdom Vision

Jesus’ first words in Mark’s Gospel are startling, like a 5:00 am wake-up call: “This is the time of fulfillment.The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” There is no hesitation or hedging of bets.

The seemingly instantaneous responses of Simon, Andrew, James and John suggest that they sensed Jesus’ earnestness and urgency and could not say no. Notice that Jesus does not tell them to stop doing what they know; he invites them to see their livelihood through his “kingdom vision.” They are still fishers, but now, they are fishers of people.

As we enter into ordinary time, we are invited to see our daily “casting of nets” in a different way, through Jesus’ “kingdom vision.” How might Jesus be calling me to this “kingdom vision” today? This week? Beyond?

Prayer

Lord, send me where you would have me,To a village or heart of the city;I will remember that you are with me.O Lord, in my eyes you were gazing;Kindly smiling, my name you were saying:All I treasured I have left on the sand there;Close to you, I will find other seas.